Plebes start Naval Academy career at Induction Day

Thursday was a big day in Annapolis as nearly 1,200 young men and women from around the country entered the U.S. Naval Academy.

Induction Day is the start of plebe summer when freshman get a crash course in what it means to be in the military. They get their reef points explaining the mission of the military, as well as their medical evaluations and the much-anticipated buzz cut that's required for men.

"A lot of them don't want to lose their hair," said one of the barbers at the event.

"It's the part I've been waiting for all day," said plebe Alex Gibson, of Greensboro, N.C.

The Class of 2016 was chosen from more than 20,000 applicants, which is a record for the Naval Academy. Over the next six weeks the plebes will get a crash course in Navy life.

"They'll learn seamanship and navigation. They'll learn basic platoon tactics. They'll do a lot of what the Navy and Marine Corps do, and that will prepare them for the future," said Midshipman First Class Dylan Kim.

They also got their uniforms. Some of the plebes 11 News spoke with were already feeling the pressure.

"(I'm doing it for the) service of country. My grandfather and father all did it before me, and it's just something I have a lot of pride in and something I wanted to do for myself," said Jim Catina of Pennsylvania.

The parents of the plebes got a pep talk outside Alumni Hall as their sons and daughters prepared to get one of the finest educations in the nation.

"I have mixed emotions. I'm very excited for him. It opens up a world of opportunities. You lose your child, so it's definitely a different experience -- not the traditional college experience even," said mother Janet Catina.

The group also got instructions on how to make their bed covers and the proper way to salute.

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